Tehrltotiy



2 Shets-Sheet 1.

No Model.)

J. M. & M. s. BROWNING. MAGAZINE CATCH FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS.

No. 499,006. Patented June 6, 1893.

ll llllll |||1J||| HQ 'I III A l g f i (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I J. M.& M. s. BROWNING.

MAGAZINE GATGH FOB MAGAZINE FIREARMS.

Patented June 6, 1893.

ii lrwl wvvWV VVVV//////Vw/////////A// NlTED terns JOKE. BROWNING AND MATTHEW S. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH TERRlTORY, ASSIGNORS TO THE YVINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS 'UDMPANK OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MAGAZINE=CATCH FOR MAGAZINE-FIREARMS.

fiPECIFIO'ATION forming part of Letters Extent No. 499,006, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed September 19, 1892. Serial No. 446,249. (No model.)

Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional side view of the arm com p'lete, all the parts in the closed or normal position; Fig. 4, a side view of the arm complete showing the receiver and stock portions separated, so as to bring the breech-piece into the open position; Fig. 5, a longitudinal central section showing parts --in side View, with the mechanism in the closed position, and with the cartridge-holder and cartridges in place, the hammer standing at full cock.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of magazine fire-arms in which the cartridges for the magazine are contained in a holder, and the chamber for the magazine is formed in the receiver below the breec'irpiece, and so that when the breechpiccc is opened, the holder with the cartridges may be introduced through the open top of .5 receiver intov the chamber below, the lgazine being provided with a spring, the ration of which is to successively raise the l ss, and so that as the breech-piece Yorwa'rd,.its forward end will strike ermos't cartridge, and force it forward Then on the re-opening of the is column of cartridges will be OtlOWB! to present the next carof the breech-piece, and parto tncse arms of this class in which the holder for the cartridges is adapted to be forced down through an opening in the receiver, so that when cartridges from one holder in the magazine have been exhausted, the introduction of the next holder and cartridges will tore-e the previous holder down place in the magazinechamber, and combined with the sear which holds the hammer at full cock, wherebya single spring will serve for the dog and sear, the invention being an improvement upon the construction shown-and described in our application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 438,105.

While the invention is specially applicable to the particular construction of the breechopening and closing mechanism shown in the said application, it is alike applicable to other arrangements of breech mechanism.

For convenience of illustration the invention is shown as applied in the same construction and arrangement of breech-operating mechanism as that in the said application, and it will be sufficient to briefly describe the said mechanism.

A, represents the receiver, to the forward end of which the barrel B, is attached, in the usual manner, and so as to open into the receiver at the rear. The receiver is detached from the stock, and so that the receiver, with the barrel which it carries, may be drawn forward from the position seen in Fig. 1, to that seen in Fig. 4. The forward end of the stock 0, is provided with a plate D, against which the rear end of the receiver A, abuts when the receiver is in the rear position, as seen in Figs. 2 and S. The receiver is constructed with aspindle E,projecting from its rear end,and downwardly inclined according to the downward inclination of the stock. The spindle is made tubular, and within the stock is a tube h, opening through the plate D, at the forward end, and corresponding to the spindle E, and so that the spindle E,may slide longitudinally therein, as a guide for the forward and backward movement of the receiver and barrel, and as from the position seen in Fig. 3 to that seen in Fig. 4 and return.

G, represents the breech-piece, which is arranged longitudinally in the receiver, and so as to be free longitudinally, but the breechpiece G, stands between the two sides of the receiver, and so as to allow the receiver to move forward and back, to take the barrel away from the forward end of the breech piece and return. From the plate D, is an upward and forwardly projecting arm II, which is constructed with an upwardly and forwardly inclined slot J, see Fig. 4. The rear end of the breech-piece is slotted corre- 1o sponding to the arm H, and into which slot the arm H, extends when the parts are in the closed positiomas seen in Fig. 2, andthrough the breech-piece and through the slot J in the arm ll, is a pin K, which forms a connectron betiveenthe breech-piece and the arm H, so that the slot limits the torwardand backward movement of the breech-piece. In the normal or closed position of the parts, the pin K,-stands at the lower end of the slot J, as seen in Fig. 5, and so that a forward movementumparted to the breechspiece will cause the pin K, to ride forward and upward in the slot J, andso as to raise the rear end of the breech-piece as it is thus moved forward, and as mdicated in broken lines Fig. 1.

In the receiver below the breech-piece a shoulder L, is formed, see Fig. 3, represent-ed as at the forward end of the spindle, and the breech-piece is. constructed with a corre- 0 spond n'gshoulder M, so that when the breechpiece is in its closed position, as seen in-Fig. 3, the shoulder M, on the breechpiece abuts against the shoulder L, of the receiver, and so that the breech-pieceislocked in its closed 5 position, so as to resist recoil.

The stock being held, and the barrel moved forward, the receiver, spindle and breechpiecewill all move together, because the shoulder L, of the receiver engages the shoul- 40 der M, of the breech-piece, but in the forward movement of the breech piece, its rear end will rise, because of the movement of the pin K, in the slot J, as before described, and so as tocause the shoulder M,of the breech-piece to rise above the shoulder L, of the receiver, by the time the pin K, has reached the upper end of the slot in the arm II, so that the breech-piece being there arrested, the shouldcr L, of the receiver may pass forward under 0 the breech-piece. leaving the breech-piece stationary with the stock, and with its rear end in the raised'position, the rear end of the breech-piece resting upon the upper side of the spindle, as seen in Fig. 4. When the barrel is returned, the breech-piece still remains with its rear end in theaip positiomand rides upon the upper side of the spindle until the receiver is returned .so far as to take the shoulder L, to the rear of the shoulder M, of the breech-piece. Then as the barrel, or forward end of the receiver, strikes the forward end of the breech-piece,the completion of the closing movement will force the breech-piece rearward,and its rear end will be drawn down because of the inclination of the slot J, until the shoulder M, of the breech-piece has passed down forward of the shoulder L, of the reof the hammer, as seen-in Fig. 5, or asuitablc shoulder formed on the hammer.

hung, its nose 0, extending forward, and so as as to prevent accidental disengagement, a

ceiver in the fully'closed position of thebreechpiece, and so as to lock the breech-piece in that closed position against recoil. 7c

The breech-piece is supported at its forward end, and so as to maintain it .1 its proper relation to the barrel, by means of longitudinal grooves N in the receiver, seen in broken lines Fig. 3, and into which corresponding trunnions O, on the forward end of the breechpiece extend, and so as to run backward and forward ,in the said grooves in longitudinal line, and yet permit the vertical swinging movement "of the breech-piece before de- 30 scribed. I

Within the breech-piece the tiring-pin P, is arranged, extending from the forward end of the breech-piece through to the rear end, as seen in Fig. 5.

Q, represents the hammer, the spindle R, of

which extends into the tubular spindle E, and 'within the tube a spiral spring S, is arranged around the spindle, adapted to bear forward against theshoul(lei"l-,on thehammer,therear end of the spring supported to resist rearward pressure upon thehammer. hammer stands in such relation to the firing- The nose of the pin that when the parts are in the closed posittlOll, as seen in Fig. 3, the hammer maystrikc 5 Ithe rear end of the firing-pin, as usual in the arrangementof hammers in other arms. The hammer being supported in the spindle, would and below the hammer, as-seen in Fig. 3, the

sear being provided with a spring Z,the tendency of which is to force the nose or rear end 10 of the sear upward against the hammer. In

the opening movement the dose ot the hammer passes to the rear of the sear,'and so that the sear spring will force'the sear up forward I I0 Then in the closing movement of the receiver, the scar holds the hammer in the cooked position while the closing movement of the breech-piece is completed, and until the engagement of the sear with the hammer shallbe released. The

scar is constructed at its forward end with a projection forming a rearwardly projecting finger a, and in the receiver the trigger I), is

I 20 to engage the said finger of the scar, as seen in Fig. 5, that a pull upon the trigger may dc- 'press the scar and release the hammer.

To hold the soar in the locked position so -I2 5 latch d, is hung upon a pivot c, which is adapted to be turned so as to bring the nose f, of the latch forward of the finger a, as seen in Fig. 5, and while this engagement exists, the sear cannot be turned from its engaged post 1 0 tion. The latch extends into the triggerguard, and is th '0 provided with a fingerpieguh, by whi the latch may be convew iently turned to either the engaged or discugaged position, as shown in broken lines Fig. 5. The latch is provided with a spring g, tending to hold it in either its engaged or disengaged position.

The receiver below the breech-piece is constructed with a chamber 2', adapted to receive several cartridges, one upon another, they lying substantially parallel with each other, with their heads at the rear, and in the chamber a spring-follower j, of any suitable character, is arranged, adapted to raise the column of cartridges as they are successively transferred by the breech-piece to the barrel, it being understood that as the breech-piece is opened the cartridges rise, so as to bring the uppermost cartridge into position with its head forward of the front face of the breechpiece, in order that when the breech-piece returns, it will strike the head of the uppermost cartridge, and force it forward into the barrel. Followers and chambers for this arrangement of cartridge are too well known to require detailed description.

The cartridge-holder 7c, is a common and well known construction, and adapted to be introduced through the top of the receiver when the breech-piece is opened, so that the holder, after the cartridges are removed, may pass down through a corresponding opening in the bottom of the receiver, and so that a second holder with its cartridges being introduced, the said second holder will force the preceding holder downward, outward, and from the receiver. As the force applied to the cartridges is upward, it is necessary that the holder or magazine shall be held against such upward force; to accomplish this object alatch Z, is hung upon a pivot m, in the receiver, in rear of the cartridge chamber or magazine,but forward of the sear. The latch extends downward, and is constructed with a tooth n which normally projects into the magazine chamber and has its upper edge beveled and its lower edge made square, whereby it is adapted to be forced back or retired for the downward movement of the cartridge-holder and to engage with the same and prevent the upward movement thereof.

Between the sear and the hinged latch Z, a V-shaped spring Z, is arranged, one leg 0, of which bears in a corresponding notch in the back of the latch, while the other end p, in like manner bears against the projection on the sear, but below the pivot on which the sear is hung, and so that the spring acts upon the sear to throwit into its hammer engaging position, and also upon the latch Z, to yieldingly hold the said latch in its forward or normal position.

When a cartridge-holder is introduced into the chamber, it passes down, and striking the beveled-back shoulder of the latch, will force the latch backward, as seen in broken lines Fig. 5, until a corresponding opening or notch q, in the back of the holder, reaches the shoulder of the latch. Then the latch will be forced forward by its spring, and make engagement with the holder, as seen in Fig. 5, which will prevent the holder from rising under the action of the follower spring. When the next holder is introduced, it will force the preceding holder downward, the latch Z, yielding for such downward movement of the preceding holder, but will engage the next succeeding ,holder in the same manner as described for the first holder. This arrangement of the hinged latch to engage the cartridge holder forward of the sear, and combining therewith a spring between the scar and latch adapted to bear on the two but in opposite directions, is simple and effective, and not liable to derangement or breakage.

The arrangement of the sear, cartridgeholder, latch and spring combined therewith, while specially applicable to the construction of breech mechanism described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the arrangement of the sear, latch and spring is applicable to other breech-operating mechanism, as, for illustration, any longitudinal reciprocating breech-piece in which the 11ammer is forced rearward by the rear movement of the breech-piece so that the hammer may engage the sear when in the cooked position. The invention'is therefore not to be understood as limited to the particular construction of breech-mechanism described.

The spring between the scar and latch, while preferably of a V or U-shaped character, this shape is not essential to theinvention, as other kinds of springs may be employed, as, for illustration, a spiral spring introduced between the two bearing points, and so that one end of the spring would rest against the sear, while the other would rest against the back of the latch, the spring being compressed under the operative movements of either the latch or the sear, its reaction serving to return those parts, this substitution of one kind of spring for another is too apparent to require illustration, or fur ther description.

We are aware that it is not broadly new in guns of the type described, to employ a single spring to operate both the sear which holds the hammer at full cock, and the latch which holds the cartridge-holder in the chamber formed in the receiver to contain it. We are also aware that it is old to adapt the receiver of a magazine-gun to have a cartridge-holder inserted into it from its upper edge and withdrawn from it through its lower edge. W do not, therefore, claim, such constructions broadly but only our particular construction.

We claim In a magazine firearm, the combination with the barrel and stock thereof, of a longitudinal reciprocal breech-piece, a hammer adapted to be thrown rearward in the rear movement of the breech-piece, a sear to engage the hammer at full cook, a receiver haw ing a magazine-chamber open above and below for the introduction of a'cartridgeholder through the upperedge of the receiver and its removal through the lower edge thereof, a latch hung on a pivot in the receiver and 5 located entirely within the same, and constructed with a tooth having its upper edge beveled and its lower endmade square to i take into the rear edge of the holder which'it' holds against upward but not downward I0 movement, and a spring interposed between the'said latch and SGiLljfllldOIJGI'tLtiUg both of them, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. BROWNING. MATTIIEVV S. BROWNING. Witnesses:

KATE LINEHAN, W. G. WRIGHT. 

